AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Kim Hee-su
Kim Hee-su김희수
ReporterMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Seoul City Hall & Defense, Foreign Affairs
Kim Hee-su is a bilingual reporter at AJU Press, covering defense and foreign affairs. Before joining AJP in 2025, she worked at The Korea Times, where she wrote interview stories, including a profile of North Korean defector Kim Gum-hyok, and produced digital content. She also previously worked as a researcher for KBS News 9’s International News Department, supporting correspondents in 10 countries around the world. She graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada with a double major in Book and Media Studies and East Asian Studies. "I'm driven by storytelling."
Latest by Kim Hee-su
  • S. Korea delivers first upgraded PKMR Batch II patrol craft to Navy
    S. Korea delivers first upgraded PKMR Batch II patrol craft to Navy SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - South Korea delivered the first Geomdoksuri-B Batch II fast patrol craft to the Navy on Friday, strengthening its frontline maritime capabilities near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean sea border. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a delivery ceremony at HJ Shipbuilding & Construction’s Yeongdo shipyard in Busan on Friday. The Geomdoksuri-B program is designed to replace the Navy’s aging Chamsuri-class patrol killer medium (PKM) vessels. DAPA completed the Batch I program from 2017 to 2022 and began the Batch II program in 2022. The first Batch II vessel was launched in 2025 before undergoing sea trials. The upgraded vessel retains the same major equipment as its Batch I predecessor but features improvements to its combat system, operability and electronic warfare capabilities. In particular, control and firing functions for its 130mm guided rocket system and 12.7mm remote weapon system have been integrated into the ship’s combat system. Its anti-jamming capabilities have also been strengthened to improve resistance to electronic warfare. The vessel is also equipped with a 76mm naval gun, search and tracking radars, electronic warfare equipment and naval tactical data communications systems, according to DAPA’s equipment diagram. “The first Geomdoksuri-B Batch II vessel has overwhelming on-site response capabilities that will deter enemy provocations,” said Choi Sang-deok, head of DAPA’s naval ship program division. After completing the Navy’s operationalization process, the vessel will be deployed to waters near the NLL for territorial defense missions. DAPA plans to deliver three additional Batch II vessels to the Navy by the end of 2026. AJP Takeaways: · South Korea delivered the first Geomdoksuri-B Batch II fast patrol craft to the Navy on Aug. 14, 2026. · The upgraded vessel features integrated 130mm guided rockets, a 12.7mm remote weapon system and stronger anti-jamming capabilities. · Three more Batch II patrol craft are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026. 2026-08-14 16:07:46
  • Hanwha Systems to equip ROK Navy support ships with EO/IR systems
    Hanwha Systems to equip ROK Navy support ships with EO/IR systems SEOUL, August 14 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems will install new electro-optical and infrared observation systems on four Republic of Korea Navy support and rescue ships, expanding technology originally developed for military helicopters into naval applications. The company said Friday that it signed a contract with the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality in July and has begun development. The project covers one logistics support ship, two surface rescue ships and one submarine rescue ship. The new EO/IR equipment is intended to improve the ships' ability to identify objects at sea and navigate safely at night or in poor weather. Unlike combat vessels, which are generally equipped with electro-optical tracking systems, support and rescue ships were not originally designed with such equipment, making operations more difficult when visibility is limited. To overcome space limitations on existing vessels, Hanwha Systems will adapt technology from its Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) developed for South Korea's Light Armed Helicopter program. The system's compact and lightweight design makes it suitable for retrofitting onto ships that were not originally built to carry electro-optical equipment. TADS is used on helicopters for reconnaissance, target detection, identification and engagement. Hanwha Systems said the system has already met military standards and demonstrated reliability in operating environments ranging from minus 35 degrees Celsius to 55 degrees Celsius. The company has about 40 years of experience developing electro-optical systems and supplies EOTS and infrared search-and-track systems for ROK Navy combat vessels. AJP Takeaways: · Hanwha Systems and TTA will jointly develop an AI-based 5G tactical communications network. · The system will integrate terrestrial, satellite and other non-terrestrial networks for seamless military communications. · The partnership also targets global defense markets by aligning technologies with 3GPP and NATO standards. 2026-08-14 15:54:13
  • Chinas grains of sand test South Koreas defenses
    China's 'grains of sand' test South Korea's defenses SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Spies are nothing new to South Koreans, who have shared a border with belligerent North Korea for more than seven decades. But they now confront a different kind of suspected spy — Chinese nationals, not necessarily trained by the state but potentially paid to fish for military intelligence. A photograph of a fighter jet. A fragment of radio traffic. The time an aircraft takes off. A glimpse of weapons moving inside a military base. Each piece of information may appear insignificant on its own. Collected repeatedly and put together, however, those fragments can begin to reveal when forces move, how often aircraft operate and what patterns emerge around military exercises. That is at the heart of what security researchers describe as China's "Thousand Grains of Sand" approach to intelligence gathering — relying not only on professional agents stealing highly classified secrets, but potentially on large numbers of people collecting small pieces of information. “China uses an intelligence-gathering strategy that employs large numbers of nonprofessional amateur spies. This is called the ‘Thousand Grains of Sand’ approach,” Yun Min-woo, a professor of police science and security studies at Gachon University, wrote in a recent study. “From this perspective, China assigns limited tasks to large numbers of people and sends them into a target country,” he said. Recent security cases in South Korea suggest that the methods used to collect those pieces of information are also becoming more diverse. According to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency's Security Investigation Division, a foreign man in his 60s stayed at a hotel near Gunsan Airport in April and set up a receiving system consisting of an SDR receiver, antenna and laptop. Gunsan Airport is home to South Korean air assets and the U.S. Air Force's Gunsan Air Base. Police allege that the man used the equipment to illegally collect air traffic control communications between military aircraft pilots and controllers. Unlike a conventional radio designed around particular frequencies or functions, software-defined radio (SDR) shifts much of the signal processing to software, allowing a computer-linked receiver to monitor and analyze a broader range of frequencies. Police said the suspect was a retired member of his country's military. Investigators also found that he had no previous record of entering South Korea before January 2024 but had since visited the country several times. Some of those visits coincided with periods when South Korean and U.S. air forces were conducting military exercises. The suspect told investigators that listening to civilian aviation communications was a hobby and that he collected military communications because he wanted to listen to fighter aircraft. Police are conducting forensic analysis of his hard drives and laptop to determine his motive and whether anyone was behind his activities. No evidence has yet been made public showing that he was acting under the direction of a foreign government. For counterintelligence officials, however, what information is collected may be only part of the picture. When it is collected can be just as important. Yun said suspected intelligence-gathering incidents involving Chinese nationals in South Korea and overseas showed a recurring pattern: attempts to observe sensitive facilities often coincided with militarily significant events. Cases examined in his study occurred around joint military exercises, missile interception tests, scheduled satellite launches and visits by major naval assets. South Korean cases displayed similar characteristics. “The timing also coincided with events such as military aircraft takeoffs and landings and the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier at the Republic of Korea Navy's operational headquarters in Busan.” Repeated observations can therefore become more valuable than a single dramatic breach. From cameras to multifunctional platforms Yun suggests that the evolution is not unique to South Korea. Of 34 suspected Chinese intelligence-related filming or intrusion cases examined in his research across the United States, Europe and the Indo-Pacific, 24 involved military-related targets, including air bases, naval facilities, training grounds, missile ranges, aircraft carriers, defense plants and a nuclear submarine shipyard. What once largely involved photographs taken with smartphones or telephoto lenses has expanded to drones capable of approaching sensitive sites from the air. Drones are also no longer limited to carrying cameras. Radio-detection equipment and other sensors can be mounted on unmanned platforms, allowing them to collect both visual information and electronic signals. “In addition to cameras, drones can be equipped with radio-detection devices and sensors and used as multifunctional platforms,” Yun said. He identifies electronic signals intelligence (SIGINT) as one potential function of drone-based intelligence collection. “Electronic signals can be collected by detecting communications towers, radio frequencies and radar signals,” Yun said. The concept is already moving into military applications. At the Paris Air Show in June 2025, French defense company Thales unveiled a mini electronic warfare payload designed for drones that can passively detect and locate radio signals. The United States has pursued a similar concept. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense funded a project called the “Low-Cost Open Source EW Drone,” aimed at combining a high-speed unmanned aircraft with commercially available SDRs, multiple antennas and an onboard processor. The system was designed to identify radio-frequency signals in real time and explore techniques for locating the source of transmissions. Such systems illustrate how drones and SDR technology can change intelligence collection. A drone carrying a camera can show what is happening at a military facility, while a radio frequency (RF) sensor can add another layer by indicating where transmissions originate and when radio activity increases. That makes the distinction between professional espionage equipment and everyday civilian technology increasingly blurred. The advantage of small pieces The “Thousand Grains of Sand” concept helps explain why intelligence services may value information that appears mundane. Instead of depending entirely on a highly trained agent penetrating a secure headquarters and stealing a top-secret document, a broader collection network can accumulate many lower-level observations. “Even if these amateur spies are detected, arrested, deported or punished, there is virtually no spy asset for the Chinese authorities to lose,” Yun wrote. He added that when such actors claim they were merely tourists, students or hobbyists, proving a connection to a state intelligence organization can be difficult. That ambiguity has appeared repeatedly in cases examined in his study. People caught filming sensitive facilities have offered explanations ranging from tourism and curiosity to an interest in aircraft or scenery. Yun argues that investigators should therefore look not only at an individual's explanation but also at repetition, equipment, location and timing. That does not mean every Chinese tourist operating a drone or photographing an aircraft is engaged in espionage. Establishing state direction requires evidence in each case. But Yun argues that repeated incidents involving similar targets should not automatically be assessed in isolation. “Recent unauthorized drone-filming incidents by Chinese nationals should not be understood as individual episodes but rather as part of interconnected and continuing operations within the overall picture,” he said. Counterintelligence moves outside the fence The evolving methods pose a particular problem for South Korea because much of conventional military security is designed around controlling physical access. Fences, gates, guards and restricted zones can prevent unauthorized individuals from entering a base. They do much less against someone staying in a nearby hotel with a radio receiver, operating a camera from a public location or flying a small drone near a sensitive facility. Yun argues that drones could even provide information about a target's security response itself, including its radio environment, detection capabilities and response procedures. The security perimeter may therefore effectively extend beyond the military installation itself. A revised Criminal Act set to take effect Sept. 13 expands the scope of espionage offenses beyond acts conducted for an “enemy state” to include certain activities carried out for a “foreign country or equivalent organization.” Until now, authorities investigating suspected intelligence activities involving countries other than North Korea have often had to rely on other criminal provisions, including Article 99 of the Criminal Act and laws governing military facilities and communications. The new law may provide investigators with stronger legal tools. But technology is evolving alongside the law. “As far as we understand, the case is currently under investigation by the police,” a vice spokesperson at the South Korean Defense Ministry said at a regular briefing Thursday. “The Ministry of National Defense has nothing further to add at this time.” 2026-08-13 18:21:33
  • Hanwha Systems, TTA team up on AI-based 5G military communications
    Hanwha Systems, TTA team up on AI-based 5G military communications SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems said Thursday it has partnered with the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) to develop an AI-based 5G tactical communications network aimed at both the South Korean military and overseas defense markets. The project will focus on integrating terrestrial networks and non-terrestrial networks, including satellite communications, through AI to provide seamless connectivity across ground and airborne platforms. The companies also plan to adapt commercial 5G technologies for military use. The system will be developed in line with international standards so it can be used not only by South Korea but also by foreign militaries. Hanwha Systems brings experience from developing South Korea’s Tactical Information Communication Network (TICN), which digitized military communications and supports high-speed wired and wireless data transmission. The company participated in TICN development from the exploratory phase in 2007 through system development and deployment. TTA, meanwhile, specializes in mobile communications standards and testing and certification for technologies including LTE, 5G and 6G. It also participates in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which develops global mobile communications standards. The two sides plan to incorporate 3GPP-based 5G and 6G technologies as well as NATO communications standards from the early design stage, seeking to ensure interoperability for potential exports to European and NATO markets. Hanwha Systems and TTA will also jointly develop a Modular Open Suite of Standard (MOSS) solution that combines mobile tactical 5G base stations, transmission equipment, satellite terminals and command-and-control equipment into a single platform. “Advanced military communications will be a key capability that determines success on future battlefields,” a Hanwha Systems official said, adding that the companies aim to strengthen South Korea’s hyperconnected tactical communications network and improve its ability to meet international standards. 2026-08-13 17:34:15
  • Incheon Airport tops world in international passenger traffic for first time
    Incheon Airport tops world in international passenger traffic for first time SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Incheon International Airport ranked first in the world for international passenger traffic in the first half of this year, marking the first time it has claimed the top spot since opening in 2001. Incheon International Airport Corp. said Thursday that the airport handled a provisional 38.39 million international passengers from January through June, up 6.3 percent from a year earlier. The figure was the highest among 1,234 airports worldwide, according to preliminary data from Airports Council International. London Heathrow Airport ranked second with 37.79 million international passengers, followed by Singapore Changi Airport with 34.53 million. Incheon has steadily climbed the global rankings over the past two decades. It ranked 10th in 2002 with 20.55 million international passengers, fifth in 2018 with 67.68 million and third in 2024 with 70.67 million. The airport operator attributed the latest rise partly to disruptions in Middle Eastern aviation following the U.S.-Iran war, which disrupted connecting traffic through major hubs such as Dubai and redirected some Europe-bound passengers through Incheon. Transfer passenger traffic at Incheon rose 18.1 percent year-on-year to 4.24 million in the first half. Transfers involving European routes jumped 63.2 percent to about 210,000. Foreign travelers also accounted for a record 44.4 percent of total passengers during the March-to-June period. The airport operator cited timely infrastructure expansion, backed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Incheon’s extensive international network as key factors behind its rise to the top ranking. Through four phases of expansion since its opening, Incheon has secured annual capacity for 106 million passengers, giving it the world’s third-largest airport infrastructure by capacity, according to the operator. A total of 101 airlines currently connect Incheon with 183 cities in 53 countries, including passenger and cargo services. Its international passenger network covers 158 destinations, compared with 139 at Hong Kong International Airport, 92 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and 86 at Narita International Airport. “We are grateful for the government’s support, the public’s encouragement and the efforts of everyone working at the airport who helped make Incheon the world’s No. 1 airport,” said Kim Bum-ho, acting president of Incheon International Airport Corp. “We will continue to improve passenger convenience and contribute to the development of Korea’s aviation industry.” 2026-08-13 11:23:52
  • Military academy alumni urge defense minister to reconsider three-school merger
    Military academy alumni urge defense minister to reconsider three-school merger SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Alumni associations of South Korea’s Army, Navy and Air Force academies urged Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday to reconsider the government’s plan to merge the three service academies, with Ahn saying he would remain open to their concerns. Leaders of the three alumni associations met Ahn to raise concerns over the proposed integration and argue that the government’s reform goals could be achieved without merging the existing academies. During the meeting, the alumni groups called on the government to suspend legislative, budget and relocation procedures until alternative options are independently reviewed. They also urged the ministry to examine whether military education reform could be achieved while maintaining the existing three academies. According to their joint statement, Ahn said he would keep an open mind toward the option of pursuing education reform while maintaining the current three-academy system, without committing to that approach. He also agreed to convey the discussions to President Lee Jae Myung. The dispute centers on a government plan announced July 16 to merge the Korea Military Academy, Korea Naval Academy and Korea Air Force Academy into a single four-year Korea Armed Forces Academy at Jaundae in Daejeon. Under the plan, cadets would spend all four years at the new campus. First- and second-year cadets would receive common education focused on areas including artificial intelligence and multi-domain operations, while third- and fourth-year cadets would receive more specialized education for the Army, Navy or Air Force. The government has argued that the integrated system would better prepare future officers for joint and multi-domain warfare, including operations involving space, cyber and the electromagnetic spectrum. A detailed implementation plan is expected in October, and establishing the new academy would require legislation. The alumni groups also sought clarification on whether a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 26 would reconsider the need for integration from the ground up or serve as part of the process for implementing the existing proposal. The associations said they viewed Ahn’s willingness to hear alternative proposals positively, while stressing that they would monitor whether their concerns are reflected in the government’s review. They also called for continued dialogue with the Defense Ministry and said a direct meeting with Lee may ultimately be necessary. 2026-08-12 18:30:59
  • Lee calls for Korea to lead, not chase, with seven future-tech projects
    Lee calls for Korea to lead, not chase, with seven future-tech projects SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday called for South Korea to move beyond catching up with global technology leaders and take the lead in emerging industries, as the government unveiled seven “SEED” projects. Lee said South Korea must use the opportunity created by its semiconductor industry to prepare for the technologies and industries that will follow the current artificial intelligence boom. “The seven advanced technologies and seven SEED projects we are discussing today will become the next-generation growth engines of our economy as well as core strategic assets of the country,” Lee said, adding that the projects could eventually grow into new national mega-projects. The seven areas are small modular reactors, nuclear fusion, renewable energy, quantum technology, space and aerospace, advanced biotechnology and advanced supply chains. Under the roadmap, South Korea aims to commercialize light-water small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2035 and begin construction of multipurpose non-light-water reactors in the 2030s. A Korean-designed fusion demonstration reactor is also targeted for completion by 2035, with electricity generation planned for the late 2030s. It will seek partnerships with countries including the United States to address uncertainties surrounding enriched uranium supplies while pursuing technologies related to spent nuclear fuel recycling. Beyond individual technologies, Wednesday's meeting highlighted a broader shift in how the government intends to finance high-risk research and development. Science Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon said the government plans to introduce an investment-based R&D model in which the public sector shares risks with private companies rather than relying only on traditional grants and loans. Supply-chain security was another major pillar of the strategy. Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan warned that South Korea remains highly dependent on foreign suppliers for critical minerals, advanced materials, components and equipment despite its strength in manufacturing finished products such as semiconductors and batteries. More than 10 trillion won will be invested in critical materials, parts and equipment technologies over five years, while another 5 trillion won will be jointly invested with the private sector in projects linking major companies with domestic suppliers. The discussion also repeatedly returned to a less tangible challenge: people. Researchers and university leaders warned that ambitious targets in SMRs, fusion, quantum technology and biotechnology would be difficult to achieve without a larger and more stable pool of scientists and engineers. Participants called for stronger basic research funding, long-term career paths for researchers and greater support for science and engineering students. Closing the nearly two-hour discussion, Lee said South Korea's goal should be to become a technology leader rather than remain a fast follower. “Traditional manufacturing remains important, but on that foundation, we have to move ahead of other countries in future advanced industries,” Lee said. “We have to become a leader, not a follower.” He added that achieving that goal would require substantially greater national investment in education and R&D. “If those working in the field show us the way, the government will actively support you and work together with you,” Lee said. AJP Takeaways △ South Korea unveiled seven “SEED” future growth projects on Aug. 12, 2026. △ Key targets include SMRs, quantum computing, space, biotechnology and advanced supply chains. △ The government plans to expand public-private investment in high-risk technologies. 2026-08-12 17:49:09
  • N. Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of UFS, possible hypersonic weapon tested
    N. Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of UFS, possible hypersonic weapon tested SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea on Wednesday, with analysts raising the possibility that Pyongyang tested a hypersonic short-range ballistic missile or a medium-range weapon flown on a shortened trajectory. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the missile launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 a.m. “Our military detected a ballistic missile launched from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea at around 6 a.m.,” the JCS said. “The missile flew more than 700 kilometers, and South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities tracked and shared related information from the early stages of the launch.” Japan’s Coast Guard assessed that the missile reached a maximum altitude of about 90 kilometers and traveled roughly 690 kilometers. The launch came six days after North Korea’s previous missile test on Aug. 6. Unlike the previous launch, however, the JCS did not identify Wednesday’s missile as a short-range ballistic missile. Ballistic missiles with ranges of roughly 300 to 1,000 kilometers are generally classified as SRBMs. When North Korea launched missiles on Aug. 6, the South Korean military specifically said it had detected short-range ballistic missiles. The difference has prompted speculation that North Korea may have tested an upgraded version of the Hwasong-11Ma, a short-range hypersonic weapon based on the Hwasong-11Ga, better known as the KN-23, with a hypersonic glide vehicle-shaped warhead. The Hwasong-11Ma was first unveiled during a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party in October 2025. Its reported flight profile could support such an assessment, as the missile reached an altitude higher than the roughly 50 to 60 kilometers typically associated with the Hwasong-11Ga family and closer to the 70 to 100 kilometer range commonly associated with hypersonic glide vehicles. Another possibility is that North Korea launched its Hwasong-16Na hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile on a shortened trajectory, given the missile’s estimated maximum altitude of around 90 kilometers. Wednesday’s launch also comes days before South Korea and the United States are scheduled to begin their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise on Aug. 17. North Korea has repeatedly condemned the allies’ joint military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion. AJP Takeaways △ North Korea fired a ballistic missile from Wonsan toward the East Sea on Aug. 12, 2026, with the missile flying more than 700 kilometers. △ South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff is assessing whether the launch involved a hypersonic short-range ballistic missile or a medium-range ballistic missile flown on a shortened trajectory. △ The launch came five days before the South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise was scheduled to begin on Aug. 17, 2026. 2026-08-12 17:03:26
  • Shareholders clear Asiana folding under the wing of Korean Air 
    Shareholders clear Asiana folding under the wing of Korean Air  SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Shareholders of Asiana Airlines gave their final blessing Wednesday to its merger with larger Korean Air, clearing the runway for South Korea's single full-service flag carrier's Dec. 17 liftoff after a five-year integration process. The approval came at Asiana’s 2026 extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in Seoul, in what is expected to be the airline’s final shareholder meeting before it is absorbed into larger full-service carrier Korean Air. About 180 shareholders, including those represented by proxy, participated in the meeting, representing 81.86 percent of voting shares. The merger proposal was approved with 99.33 percent of votes cast in favor. Shares of Korean Air added 0.2 percent to 26,600 won, while Asiana Airlines fell 1.8 percent to 7,240 won. The sole agenda item was approval of the merger agreement signed with Korean Air on May 14. Under the agreement, Asiana will be absorbed into Korean Air, with the integrated airline scheduled to launch on Dec. 17. “It has been a long journey of more than five years since November 2020,” Asiana Airlines CEO Song Bo-young told shareholders. “On Dec. 17, Asiana Airlines will successfully complete the business combination process with Korean Air and be reborn as an integrated Korean Air,” Song said, describing the merger as the first step toward a new chapter for South Korea’s aviation industry as a mega carrier. Korean Air first announced plans to acquire Asiana in November 2020 as the smaller carrier struggled under a heavy debt burden and the collapse in global air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Korean Air completed its acquisition of a 63.88 percent controlling stake in Asiana in December 2024 after securing competition approvals in 14 jurisdictions. Regulatory concessions included transferring some routes and airport slots to rivals and divesting Asiana’s cargo business. The airlines have since operated separately while preparing for full legal and operational integration. Song said Asiana would spend its remaining months reviewing preparations already made for the merger and ensuring the combined airline can generate synergies from the outset. “We will go over what we have prepared once again, and we are renewing our determination so that we can create synergies when the integrated airline is launched,” Song told reporters after the meeting. He said communication with employees and preventing disruption for passengers would be among the final priorities. “Our ultimate goal is to return the benefits to our customers, so we are preparing to become an airline that is loved more than any other,” Song said. “We are also making every effort to prepare thoroughly so that customers do not experience inconvenience or confusion.” Shareholders who spoke during the meeting largely backed the merger while acknowledging lingering concerns over regulatory concessions and the practical difficulties of combining two airlines. “Some are concerned that conditions attached to the merger approval, including slot adjustments and the sale of the cargo business, could lead to a decline in corporate value, while there are also various concerns from consumers,” shareholder Kim Kyung-ho said. Still, Kim said he expected the combined Korean Air to become more competitive in the global aviation market and urged management to ease market concerns and maximize shareholder value. Another shareholder, Shin Hyuk-soo, also expressed his blessing. “I hope the merger will maximize synergies between the two airlines and further strengthen their competitiveness in the global aviation market,” Shin said. One airline, about 229 aircraft The Dec. 17 merger will go beyond Korean Air’s 2024 acquisition of control by bringing Asiana itself to an end as a separate airline. Korean Air will become the surviving company, taking over Asiana’s assets, liabilities, employees and operating responsibilities as aircraft and systems are brought under a single organization. The combination will also substantially enlarge Korean Air’s fleet. Korean Air currently lists 162 aircraft, including 139 passenger jets and 23 freighters. Asiana lists 67 passenger aircraft, including six A380s, 15 A350s, eight Boeing 777s and 14 A330s. On those current fleet numbers, the integrated carrier would operate about 229 aircraft — 206 passenger jets and 23 freighters — before accounting for any deliveries, retirements or lease returns before Dec. 17. That would put the combined Korean Air among Asia’s largest full-service carriers. Comparisons are complicated because some airlines count regional and low-cost subsidiaries in group fleet totals while others report only mainline aircraft. A Reuters analysis based on Cirium and OAG data when Korean Air completed its Asiana acquisition in 2024 estimated the enlarged airline group would rank 12th globally by international capacity. The 229-aircraft figure also excludes Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul. Korean Air plans to combine the three low-cost units separately, under the wing of Jin Air, the LCC brand of Korean Air. Asiana will also leave Star Alliance at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 16, ending more than two decades of membership. Its customers will move into Korean Air’s SkyTeam network from the following day. The enlarged carrier will therefore gain not only aircraft but also a wider international network and larger customer base, while eliminating much of the overlap between South Korea’s two longtime full-service airlines. Mileage and pilot issues pose as headwinds For passengers, one of the most closely watched issues remains what happens to Asiana mileage. Korean Air has proposed keeping existing Asiana mileage accounts separate for 10 years after the merger while giving customers the option of converting them into Korean Air’s SKYPASS miles. Under the proposal, miles earned from flights would be converted at a 1-to-1 ratio, while those accumulated through credit cards and other affiliated programs would be converted at 1 to 0.82. That means 10,000 Asiana partner miles would become 8,200 Korean Air miles if converted. Korean Air initially proposed a lower conversion ratio before revising its plan following scrutiny from the Fair Trade Commission. The regulator has sought stronger consumer safeguards, including improvements to mileage redemption options and the availability of award tickets and seat upgrades. Asked Wednesday about the mileage program, Song said the company was still waiting for the regulator’s decision. “The Fair Trade Commission has not made an announcement yet, so we are also waiting,” he said. The proposed ratios therefore remain subject to final regulatory approval. Another unresolved issue lies in the cockpit. Integrating Korean Air and Asiana pilots has proved particularly sensitive because seniority can determine promotions, compensation, aircraft assignments and career progression. Different hiring and career systems at the two airlines have fueled disagreements over how pilots should be ranked after the merger. The tensions spilled into a legal dispute earlier this year after the head of Asiana Airlines’ pilots union argued in an official letter that many pilots had joined Korean Air after failing to enter Asiana and suggested civilian-background pilots at Asiana had entered the carrier earlier because of stronger qualifications. A screenshot of the letter was later posted on Blind, an anonymous workplace community widely used by aviation industry employees. Some Korean Air pilots subsequently filed a defamation complaint against the Asiana union chief, arguing that the remarks had damaged their reputation. Police decided on July 30 not to refer the case for prosecution, citing insufficient evidence. The Asiana union later said it would not pursue further action and would seek to put aside its differences with the Korean Air pilots union as the merger approaches. Song played down concerns over the pilot seniority dispute in June, saying standards were being established and efforts were under way to resolve the issue. Korean Air has said it does not plan artificial workforce restructuring as part of the merger, meaning much of the integration challenge will involve combining employees, aircraft and operating systems rather than simply cutting overlapping jobs. With shareholder approval secured, the focus now moves from completing the merger to making the enlarged airline work. Asiana, which began operations in 1988 and spent decades as one of South Korea’s two major full-service carriers, now has just four months left as an independent airline. On Dec. 17, its name will disappear from the skies, its aircraft will join Korean Air’s fleet and a merger process stretching back to 2020 will give way to the harder task of turning two airlines into one. AJP Takeaways △ Asiana Airlines shareholders approved the carrier’s merger with Korean Air, clearing a key step toward the launch of the integrated airline on Dec. 17, 2026. △ Mileage integration remains a major consumer issue, with Korean Air proposing a 1:1 conversion for flight-earned Asiana miles and a 1:0.82 ratio for credit card and partner miles, pending Fair Trade Commission approval. △ Pilot integration is another unresolved challenge, as Korean Air and Asiana continue to address seniority, personnel standards and lingering labor tensions ahead of the full merger. 2026-08-12 15:21:11
  • Military AI sovereignty emerges as Asias new defense front
    Military AI sovereignty emerges as Asia's new defense front SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - The next contest for military power is no longer simply about who has the best weapons or even the most powerful artificial intelligence. It is increasingly about who controls the AI when the shooting starts. The United States has demonstrated the advantage of combining its AI software edge with military might. Japan, China and South Korea are now pursuing different strategies to ensure that critical military capabilities do not become dependent on technology controlled elsewhere. That is turning military AI sovereignty into a new layer of national defense. For East Asia’s manufacturing powers, the shift is particularly important. China, Japan and South Korea possess formidable manufacturing capabilities, increasingly enhanced by AI, giving them strategic leverage in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment. But as weapons become more dependent on software, manufacturing strength alone may no longer be enough. The United States currently holds the strongest advantage in frontier AI. Palantir Technologies' Maven Smart System, which brings together information from satellites, drones, radar and other sensors, supported thousands of U.S. strikes against Iran, according to Reuters. In March, the Pentagon moved to designate Maven as a formal "program of record," effectively establishing it as a long-term military command-and-control capability rather than an experimental project. The Pentagon has since gone further. In May, it announced agreements with eight U.S. technology companies, including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, SpaceX, Amazon Web Services, Oracle and Reflection, to deploy frontier AI capabilities directly on classified military networks. The Pentagon said more than 1.3 million personnel had already used its GenAI.mil platform within five months, generating tens of millions of prompts and deploying hundreds of thousands of AI agents. It is also deliberately using multiple providers, saying its architecture is designed to prevent vendor lock-in. The issue is becoming increasingly important as commercial AI moves closer to military decision-making. Reliance on a single provider could leave critical military capabilities dependent on one company's technology, while the ability to switch between models gives governments greater control over the systems they deploy. The commercial stakes are rising just as quickly. Global Market Insights estimates that the global market for AI and analytics in military and defense applications will expand from $11.53 billion in 2025 to $35.78 billion by 2034, representing annual growth of 13.4 percent. North America accounted for 37.7 percent of the market in 2024, while Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region through 2034, with annual growth of 15.1 percent. The figures reflect how AI is spreading beyond intelligence analysis into command and control, autonomous weapons, cyber defense and logistics. But while the United States is home to most of the world's leading frontier AI developers, its Asian allies and rivals are increasingly confronting a different question: how much of a country's military AI can safely depend on technology developed elsewhere? Japan: use foreign AI, retain domestic control Japan provided the latest answer this week. Tokyo is considering using advanced U.S. AI models across multiple defense systems while entrusting its most sensitive command-and-control functions to a Japanese-developed system, according to Japanese media reports. A leading candidate is Fugu, developed by Tokyo-based Sakana AI. Unlike a conventional model, Fugu acts as an orchestrator capable of selecting and coordinating several specialized AI models depending on the task. Sakana describes the technology as a way to achieve frontier-level performance without becoming dependent on a single model provider. The move follows a broader Japanese effort to test American military AI. Japan has been considering Palantir's technology for Self-Defense Forces command-and-control operations, and Palantir's system was reportedly used during the U.S.-Japan Keen Edge command-post exercise earlier this year. But Tokyo appears to be drawing a firm line around its most sensitive systems. Although Sakana AI has previously used Chinese open-source models in developing Fugu, Chinese models are expected to be excluded from versions supplied for defense use. Developers involved in the military project would also be limited to Japanese nationals, while data centers handling sensitive defense information would be located inside Japan. The strategy effectively combines American AI capability with Japanese control. Tokyo can use foreign models where they offer superior performance while retaining domestic authority over the system that decides which models are used and how their outputs enter military decision-making. China: learn abroad, deploy at home China is pursuing a different model — learning from foreign AI while attempting to move military applications onto its own systems. A Reuters review published late last month found that researchers linked to the People's Liberation Army have used outputs from leading U.S. AI models, including those developed by OpenAI and Anthropic, to train smaller Chinese models through a process known as model distillation. In one case, researchers linked to PLA Unit 96941, which is involved in intelligence and cyber operations, used OpenAI's GPT-3.5 to process software code and then used the results to train a domestic model capable of operating within Chinese networks. Researchers at China's National University of Defense Technology have similarly used distillation to develop smaller image-processing models suitable for drones, allowing them to analyze imagery and assist navigation even when communications are disrupted. Other research has examined lightweight AI for target recognition in maritime operations involving drones, surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles. The approach illustrates Beijing's broader objective: extract useful capabilities from frontier foreign models while reducing dependence on them in actual military operations. China has also accelerated military adoption of domestic systems, including models derived from DeepSeek, for battlefield decision support, autonomous systems and target recognition. The commercial gap could narrow as well. Global Market Insights projects China's military and defense AI and analytics market to reach $4.53 billion by 2034, with China expected to remain the largest market in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region. South Korea: manufacturing strength, weaker AI layer South Korea, meanwhile, is increasingly embracing the same language of technological sovereignty. Its traditional strength lies in manufacturing. The country's defense industry has built capabilities in aircraft, armored vehicles, missiles and other hardware, while its broader manufacturing and ICT infrastructure provide a strong base for physical AI. But its military AI capabilities remain less developed. In July, Naver, Naver Cloud and Korea Aerospace Industries agreed to jointly develop a defense-specific sovereign AI foundation model based on domestic technology. The project is intended eventually to extend beyond language models into physical AI, including unmanned aircraft, AI pilots and future manned-unmanned combat systems. Naver said the effort was designed to minimize security risks and reduce reliance on foreign technology in defense and national security. It follows a separate agreement in May between the Defense Ministry and SK Telecom to develop and test a military-specific AI model based on Korea's government-backed sovereign AI foundation model project. Seoul has also begun testing AI closer to actual military operations. During the 2025 Freedom Shield exercise with the United States, the Defense Ministry tested its Defense Generative AI, or GeDAI, including services designed to answer questions about wartime mobilization and Marine Corps doctrine. More recently, the military has turned to AI for unmanned warfare. In June, the Defense Ministry announced plans to introduce about 60,000 drones by 2029, including around 11,000 this year, while moving to acquire AI-based drone swarms and loitering munitions. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back also said military drones would use domestically produced components instead of Chinese parts because of security concerns. Yet South Korea still faces a considerable gap with the United States. A September 2025 report by Kim Ji-won, a researcher at the Korea Information Society Development Institute, cited an assessment that South Korea's defense AI technology was about 4.1 years behind leading countries such as the United States. The report estimated that South Korea had about 2,664 defense AI specialists, equivalent to only 9 percent of the U.S. level, while limited access to classified military data was identified as another major obstacle to domestic AI development. That weakness could become more significant as the defense AI market shifts increasingly toward software. While hardware accounted for 40.6 percent of the global military AI and analytics market in 2024, software is forecast to be its fastest-growing segment, expanding at an annual rate of 15.7 percent, according to Global Market Insights. Machine learning and deep learning already accounted for 45.8 percent of the market by technology, followed by computer vision at 24.2 percent. That presents a particular challenge for South Korea, whose defense industry has traditionally been stronger in manufacturing aircraft, armored vehicles, missiles and other hardware than in military software and algorithms. The KISDI report identified manufacturing and ICT infrastructure as strengths but cited software capabilities, specialist manpower and military data access among the country's structural weaknesses. Kim warned that Korea's existing strengths alone may not be enough as competition accelerates. "If Korea fails to confront its internal weaknesses in technology and talent and the rapidly changing external environment, it also risks rapidly falling behind in global competition," Kim said. The three Asian countries are approaching the same strategic problem in different ways. As AI moves deeper into command and control, autonomous systems, intelligence and battlefield decision-making, control over the software and models behind those weapons is becoming increasingly important. For the United States, access to the world's leading AI developers remains a major strategic advantage. For its Asian allies and rivals, the challenge is how to benefit from frontier technology without allowing dependence on foreign AI to become a new military vulnerability. As Kim put it, "Defense AI is no longer science fiction but a reality, and achieving a successful defense AI transformation is no longer an option but a necessity." AJP Takeaways △ The U.S. leads military AI integration, using systems such as Palantir’s Maven and deploying frontier AI directly on classified networks. △ Japan is pursuing a hybrid model, using advanced U.S. AI while keeping sensitive command-and-control functions under domestic control. △ China is using U.S. AI outputs to train domestic military models while expanding homegrown systems for drones, targeting and battlefield decisions. △ South Korea is building sovereign defense AI but still faces gaps in software, manpower and military data access compared with the U.S. 2026-08-11 17:41:37